Over 5,000 people will offer their services to help with the running of the tournament and 40 of those are needed in the Millennium Stadium’s Communications department.
Cardiff will host four matches during the six-week competition, three Pool matches and a quarter-final that could see New Zealand pitted against France or Ireland.

And with an estimated television audience of four billion for the tournament, organizers are preparing Media rooms in the RWC venues to ensure the media are able to broadcast and beam the images across the globe as they happen without a hitch.

Yesterday was the turn of Cardiff to come under the scrutiny of RWC officials and a chance for the volunteers to get to grips with the tasks ahead.

“The Millennium Stadium is one of the most incredible centres of sporting excellence in the world,” RWC Organising Committee Venue Manager Derek Phillips said as he gave the group a run-down of their responsibilities.

“Volunteering is exciting; it opens doors and gives you valuable insight into how major sporting events are run. It will be you who will help to make the Press area run smoothly and have a major role to play on matchdays.”

This was a view echoed by WRU Head of Communications John Williams who said: “The volunteer scheme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is interested in the media, and rugby, to get some great hands on experience.

“The Rugby World Cup is a global event and it will attract the eyes of the world to Cardiff.”